Your Excellency President Barack Obama
Dear President Barack Obama,
“There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known.” Luke 12:2.
Warmest greetings in God’s peace!
I am Rev. Bae Tae-Jin, the General Secretary of the Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea (PROK). As a leader of our church, I am deeply concerned with the ongoing threats to global peace, justice and people’s security. Our church professes and bears witness to the enduring and sustainable peace that Jesus Christ represents.
I am sending a public letter to you and your government. Especially I urge the presidential pardon for PFC Bradley Manning and compassion for Edward Snowden who is determined to challenge injustice and falsehood.
First, I seek clemency and urge the pardon for PFC Bradley Manning who exposed the ugly crimes committed by the U.S. forces in the Iraq War.
I have known that Bradley Manning has been found guilty and penalized to 35 years imprisonment for violating the United States’ Espionage Act, stealing government property, violation of the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, multiple counts of disobeying orders. His lawyer has already recommended and applied for presidential pardon and I support this move to grant him pardon.
I am impressed by your first inaugural speech as the newly elected president of the United States, when you said, “Recall that earlier generations faced down fascism and communism not just with missiles and tanks, but with sturdy alliances and enduring convictions. They understood that our power alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle us to do as we please. Instead, they knew that our power grows through its prudent use; our security emanates from the justness of our cause, the force of our example, the tempering qualities of humility and restraint.”
I had high hopes for your leadership and with much anticipation that your administration will put in place a different strategy from your predecessors, one that upholds the sovereignty of nations, protects the basic freedoms of U.S. citizens and through broader diplomatic processes advocates for just-peace in many countries around the world. This positive expectation has been compounded in what you have said in your second term inaugural address,
“We will begin to responsibly leave Iraq to its people, and forge a hard-earned peace in Afghanistan. With old friends and former foes, we will work tirelessly to lessen the nuclear threat, and roll back the specter of a warming planet . . .”
The promise you have made led me to believe that it would be matched with specific policy recommendations and conscientious actions to realize denuclearization process and the thawing of diplomatic relations with countries and states that are considered enemies of the U.S. I have fervently prayed for you and your administration.
But I have been very concerned, as I observed the geo-political and military strategy the United States government has been pursuing causes tension in the Korean Peninsula and attempts for peace and security made by the previous U.S. administrations unfortunately resulted in wars of aggression against sovereign nations and states and brought about unprecedented violence such as mass killings of civilian populations and influx of refugees in the neighboring territories and countries.
In Korea, there are generations who are still alive from Korean War. I who grew up hearing the stories of war from childhood know very well that how the war can make human beings evil. Even in the extreme situations such as war, I am strongly against war crimes that destroy the goodness and the image of God in human beings, and dehumanize human beings. War of aggression cannot go unpunished and should not be engaged in in the name of national security. It should not be motivated by economic benefits.
So, I support the courageous determination of PFC Bradley Manning in disclosing the crimes committed in Iraq war and urge you to grant him presidential pardon.
Second, I would like to request that you extend a compassionate heart to Edward Snowden.
I request a compassionate heart to Snowden who now is a refugee in Russia because he disclosed national violence.
I am absolutely against the United States’ sponsored wars of aggression in many countries around the world. These are wars that violate national sovereignty of nations, indiscriminately harm, maim and kill civilians. Also, I am strongly opposed to the psychological warfare that the U.S. government is carrying out such as surveillance of ordinary citizens’ private information. This is a form of state violence and this is immoral.
Even though Snowden knew that he would go through huge sufferrings by exposing the realities of national security investigation, he had extraordinary determination to demonstrate truth. By Snowden’s disclosure, USA, regarded as the leading nation of the world, lost trust of friendly nations as well as it started to be regarded as an immoral nation among other nations including China.
On the surface, this situation is caused by Snowden’s disclosure, but this has revealed more weighty matters that can imperil the lives of many people. I would like to remind you of the Bible passage in Luke 12:2, “There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known.” The United States should be transparent in its government policies and refrain from encroachment into the private information of ordinary people.
In order for the United States to regain the trust and confidence of the international community, your government should correct its practices that has brought many injustices to its citizens and nations and work towards just and democratic policies, rather than being outweighed by the economic benefits of existing policies.
It is my best hopes and prayers that you and the United States’ government will work toward the respect for human rights of U.S. citizens and of all people, and realization of enduring and sustainable just-peace around the world.
The Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea
[이 게시물은 관리자님에 의해 2016-11-03 21:36:25 총무 칼럼에서 이동 됨]
